Written Ministerial Statement

Wednesday 17th April 2013 Written Statements

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Intellectual Property Office

Wednesday 17th April 2013 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Jo Swinson)]

My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Viscount Younger of Leckie, has today made the following statement:

As an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, we set targets which are agreed by Ministers and laid before Parliament. During 2013-14 our targets are to:

Finalise secondary legislation to implement Hargreaves’ recommendations regarding copyright exceptions.

Achieve at least 90% delivery of the provision of an accelerated two-month turnaround for patent search, publication, and examination when needed by the applicant.

Introduce a secure identification system to facilitate the electronic management of rights by our customers.

Ensure customer satisfaction is at least 80%.

Working with police and industry, establish a specialist police IP crime unit capable of tackling infringement and counterfeits on the internet.

With partners, develop and deliver a campaign to build understanding of and respect for intellectual property among consumers and young people. In its first year, the campaign will secure media messaging which reaches at least 4 million people and drive a 5% increase in hits on campaign-related web pages.

Provide access to online training in IP issues for business advisors, at both a basic level free of charge, and an advanced level at a commercial rate, with the aim of reaching 500 advisors by 31 March 2014.

Support our people in developing their capability, such that 95% complete an agreed development objective by 31 March 2014.

Achieve a return on capital employed of at least 4%.

Deliver an efficiency gain of at least 3.5%.